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Algeria sees record rise in crime during first 6 months of 2017

July 24, 2017 at 11:40 am

A man being arrested by Algerian forces [Echoroukonline]

Data obtained from Algeria’s gendarmerie and police forces has revealed a record increase in criminal activities during the first six months of this year. According to the law enforcement units, a total of 180,000 crimes have been recorded since 1 January, equivalent to about 500 crimes a day involving more than 250,000 people.

Figures from the Gendarmerie Nationale show that its units have documented more than 100,000 crimes, resulting in the arrest of more than 110,000 people. Almost 50 per cent of those arrested have been minors.

The crimes include attacks on people and property, murder, beatings and serious bodily harm, as well as the kidnapping of children. The data shows that the provinces of Setif, Algiers and Tebessa are the worst in terms of the number of crimes dealt with by the authorities.

National security units have documented more than 80,000 crimes, equating to an average of 220 crimes per day, 40 per cent of which involved crimes against people with 41 per cent against property.

Read: 3,000 cases of corruption recorded in Algeria since 2013

The latest police and gendarmerie report on criminal activities has warned of the high incidence of crimes committed by children. Some of these are very serious, such as wilful killing, theft, drugs and the destruction of property. More than 300 murders and attempted murders have been recorded.